KARACHI: Commercial centres are being closed down in Karachi, hours after normalcy returned to the city following a shut down in the wake of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain's detention by British authorities, DawnNews reported.

Shops were being reportedly shut in the city's Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Federal B Area and other neighbourhoods.

President All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Ateeq Mir said certain elements were forcing people to shut down their shops and businesses.

The disturbance was reported hours after the city’s condition began limping towards normalcy after a shutdown of almost two days.

Commercial and trade centres of the city had started opening up along with shops and petrol pumps and educational institutions were also scheduled to resume their academic activities.

MQM workers in Karachi and other cities have been staging protests against Hussain’s detention in the United Kingdom (UK).

A large number of MQM workers, members of the party’s Rabita Committee and members of Sindh and National Assemblies have been participating in the sit-in protest at Karachi’s Numaish Chowrangi.

The party has vowed to continue “peaceful sit-ins” not only to show solidarity with Hussain but to ensure that the Pakistani government asks the British government to provide the MQM chief with the best medical facilities and complete protection to his life.

The MQM chief was taken into custody by the British police on June 3 on suspicion of money-laundering. He was arrested in northwest London where he has been living in self-imposed exile since 1992.

Hussain had urged his followers and party workers last night to remain peaceful and not to take the law into their own hands.